The Motorola Defy is water-, dust- and scratch-resistant, and the company describes it as "Australia’s first summer-proof smartphone". Traditionally, ruggedised mobiles in Australia have been reserved for low-end feature phones rather than fully fledged smartphones.

The Motorola Defy runs the 2.1 version of Google's Android platform, has a 5-megapixel camera with single LED flash and a 3.7in capacitive touchscreen manufactured from "gorilla glass". It features the latest version of Motorola's MotoBlur software, which includes resizable widgets, corporate security and a battery manager.

Motorola has not announced when the Defy will be upgradeable to the 2.2 version of Android, called Froyo. Froyo adds full Flash support, built-in wireless tethering, and the ability to store third-party apps on your SD card, though the Motorola Defy already features a light version of Adobe's Flash, along with the ability to act as a 3G mobile hotspot.

The Motorola Defy is available now through Optus for $0 upfront on a $49 plan over 24 months (a total minimum cost of $1176). The plan includes $500 worth of calls, SMS and MMS value, 1.5GB of data and unlimited Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, eBay, LinkedIn and Foursquare access.

The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.

My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.

Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of IDG Communications is prohibited. Copyright 2013 IDG Communications.
ABN 14 001 592 650. All rights reserved.

Contact Us

With over 25 years of brand awareness and credibility, Good Gear Guide (formerly PC World Australia), consistently delivers editorial excellence through award-winning content and trusted product reviews.